Ask Congress to Oppose the American Health Care Act

Congress will vote on a Republican health care proposal, called the“American Health Care Act” (AHCA), that would gut lifesaving provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid. While the ACA and Medicaid expansion have been responsible for significant gains against the HIV and Hep C epidemics, the Republican plan will cause 24 million Americans to lose health care, among them many people living with or at risk for HIV and hepatitis C.

It’s critical that your Representative in Congress, whether a Republican or Democrat, hear from you TODAY that the AHCA is unacceptable. It will result in increased HIV and hepatitis C infections, and worsen health outcomes for people with both diseases. Your Representative needs to know that his or her constituents want universal, comprehensive, affordable coverage rather than the Republican plan, which runs completely counter to these goals!

Please Take Action TODAY!

Call your member of the House of Representatives TODAY, at (866) 246–9371. This number is toll-free and will connect you with your Representative. Here is what you can say:

Hello my name is _______ and I live in [city & state]. I am a person [living with HIV or hepatitis C / concerned about HIV and hepatitis C]. I am calling to ask that you vote against the American Health Care Act. This legislation would hurt people living with and at risk for HIV and hepatitis C by making it harder and more expensive to get the care they need. This bill would harm other people I care about, too, including people on low-incomes and seniors. I urge you to be compassionate and oppose the American Health Care Act.

After you call, please urge friends, family and co-workers to call their members of Congress, too. Share the script and phone number on Facebook and Twitter. Suggested hashtags when you post: #Medicaid program! #ProtectOurCare #NoRepeal #saveourcare #HIVResists #HIV #HIVLives and #AHCA. Click here to send a pre-written tweet!

Key Facts

The Republican health care plan, also known as the American Health Care Act, would:

• Result in 24 million Americans losing health insurance by 2026.

• Increase average premiums in the Marketplaces by 15-20% in 2018 and 2019.

• Provide the same amount of financial assistance to a couple making only $20,000 and a couple making $150,000.

• Penalize people who fall out of coverage for more than two months by allowing insurers to charge 30% more the next time they try to get insurance.

• Reduce federal spending on Medicaid by $880 billion between 2017-2026, leaving states to struggle to make up the difference.

• Phase out Medicaid expansion starting in 2020.

To learn more about the Republican plan and its impact on people living with or vulnerable to HIV, please click here, here, and here.